Discussion
So here are the first pictures of the conversion taking place. firstly, let me tell you that the car will be - as close is as is possible - a recreation of the Steve McQueen car (I want her to remain BRG) and incredibly the bumper set I have acquired are a spare set from that actual car. You will see the windscreen surround in alloy (yet to be chromed of course) and this was copied from the Cuban cars when restored 20 years back and has sat on a shelf ever since. Similarly the tunnel was copied from those two cars. Here you are then:-
John drilling out the rivets to take the fin off:-
Taking the fin off:-
It's off!
Offering up the new screen:-
Welding in alloy to replace the spotlight:-
More anon.
John drilling out the rivets to take the fin off:-
Taking the fin off:-
It's off!
Offering up the new screen:-
Welding in alloy to replace the spotlight:-
More anon.
Going forward, the doors and the B frame are being modified and the bumpers, having been offered up, proved that the rear of the D-type wasn't the correct shape at all. Since this was the 44th Lynx D made this is unfathomable, but hey-ho, we have to modify. It turns out that at the time of manufacture they didn't know what door hinges were originally used but they turn out to be early XK120 (typical Jaguar - use unwanted parts) but those on the car are actually from - wait for it - a Mini! Now they have been changed to the real thing. Here are a few of the latest pics:-
With spotlight:-
And now it has vanished:-
The bumper offered up to the rear of the car showing the discrepancy in the shape:-
And the boot lid now reprofiled, how the bumper bar fits now:-
I'd like to mention that the rear of the car has been reprofiled by Ollie, a youngster who served his apprenticeship under John Smith (who is left doing the fiddly bits like the B pillar etc.) and who also was responsible for parts of my C-type. I have every confidence in this lad, and see a great future for him.
So, Xmas is coming earlier than I thought, and the car is coming along well. My warmest wishes to you all for the Xmas and New Year, and service will recommence next year.
Tony
With spotlight:-
And now it has vanished:-
The bumper offered up to the rear of the car showing the discrepancy in the shape:-
And the boot lid now reprofiled, how the bumper bar fits now:-
I'd like to mention that the rear of the car has been reprofiled by Ollie, a youngster who served his apprenticeship under John Smith (who is left doing the fiddly bits like the B pillar etc.) and who also was responsible for parts of my C-type. I have every confidence in this lad, and see a great future for him.
So, Xmas is coming earlier than I thought, and the car is coming along well. My warmest wishes to you all for the Xmas and New Year, and service will recommence next year.
Tony
Edited by lowdrag on Friday 23 December 18:05
What a shame - I have searched for the company and they no longer exist - or at least their web site doesn't anyway so I guess it's the same thing. I have a 1:18 scale hand made Cunning D-type from a company called Le Mans Models in Dorset which I bought in 1993 and it is also a work of art and, sadly, they don't exist any more either. But Boz, your diorama there is truly spmething special. I hope you'll bring it in to work so I can photograph it when I pick up the XKSS.
Y'know Rich, I have long wondered myself and always forget to ask Norman when I see him, but you have prompted me to fire off a couple of emails to various people to see if they know. Hopefully I can solve the puzzle, since I would have expected the Jaguar D-type lozenge and not the script.
Well, the Jaguar part of the badge comes straight from the Mk VIII, but the XKSS part is - and I have this from someone with intimate knowledge of the cars - rather crudely cut from sheet metal, then two studs were brazed to the back, then it was chromed. But as to who designed it no one seems to know. However, mine will be made in the same fashion.
If I'm right though Boz, the American car was subsequently (after the actor had it) in the hands of someone from New York who took out the original Lynx engine. Quite well known for messing around with Jaguars over the years too I believe. 
The new owner and I have been corresponding.
The new owner and I have been corresponding.
No more pics for the moment, because unlike a real XKSS there is no real chassis. It must be understood that a real D-type had almost a full chassis, so it was half and half monocoque and a chassis based car. The Lynx tub was strengthened by the central bar in the cockpit, so reinforcing has had to be done around the B post before the central bar is cut out. Also, the "legs" of the windscreen have to be mated to the A pillar. In all, long time-consuming fiddly work, and things that unless you know about them you wouldn't know, but she will be emerging from her chrysalis this spring. We have the parts for the hood frame from RS Panels who also supplied the tunnel and the screen surround, so a great big thanks to James Smith. They were pattererned from the Cuban XKSS' he restored twenty years back, so are absolutely correct in shape and form. I'll post photos as and when available.
Happy New Year to all.
Happy New Year to all.
Not sure, but we have a difference of opinion on values on another thread here. I thought about £1.5 million, but someone else (much closer to the cars than me) reckons about double that. Probably me out of touch - I mean, it's about three weeks since I looked Whatever, I need the euromillions before I can even bother to think about it, and I could never have afforded even a Lynx today if I hadn't bought the D-type ten years back. I feel sad that our hobby has been hijacked by "investors". It's all about big money now.
Whatever, I need the euromillions before I can even bother to think about it, and I could never have afforded even a Lynx today if I hadn't bought the D-type ten years back. I feel sad that our hobby has been hijacked by "investors". It's all about big money now.Yes, the "Jaguar" part of the script was standard Mk VII/VIII badging, but the actual XKSS bit was made by the youngsters.
On the other point above, I don't really care if it is fibreglass or alloy, but obviously alloy is more authentic. Dear departed Tim came here a number of times in the RAM XKSS he built himself and it was a lovely car and it is just a question of filthy lucre as to whether one can have an alloy car or a fibre one. They both can give enormous pleasure, and if I win the Euromillions tonight then it'll be fun to go and park a real one up and watch people explain why it's a replica! I've watched the great debate over the D-type time and again, and the secretary of one club spent over 30 mins looking over it beforte declaring it an original. At Silverstone 2010 a couple roared up in a C-type, dumped it on the XK Club's stand and went off. I knew the car, but it was such fun hearing people talk about what a good replica it was when it was one of the earlist C-types around! But it is fun to watch them furtively feel the wheel arch like a kiddie stealing a lollipop.
On the other point above, I don't really care if it is fibreglass or alloy, but obviously alloy is more authentic. Dear departed Tim came here a number of times in the RAM XKSS he built himself and it was a lovely car and it is just a question of filthy lucre as to whether one can have an alloy car or a fibre one. They both can give enormous pleasure, and if I win the Euromillions tonight then it'll be fun to go and park a real one up and watch people explain why it's a replica! I've watched the great debate over the D-type time and again, and the secretary of one club spent over 30 mins looking over it beforte declaring it an original. At Silverstone 2010 a couple roared up in a C-type, dumped it on the XK Club's stand and went off. I knew the car, but it was such fun hearing people talk about what a good replica it was when it was one of the earlist C-types around! But it is fun to watch them furtively feel the wheel arch like a kiddie stealing a lollipop.
Er - it was the monthly meeting this morning, first Sunday of the month. I looked out and saw 6" of snow and that was that. Actually, the remaining car 9E-type) is in its Carcoon for the winter so no thoughts of going anyway. Just remains for the two of us to eat 2 kilos of chicken and the trimmings because our friends - wisely - aren't coming either.
I'm afraid that photos have been somewhat sparse, but here are a couple. It's a pitly we don't have one of the windscreen surround "legs", because the work involved in fitting the screen to the car is a prime example of hours and hours of work to get it just right. Similarly the B posts have had to be completely modified to accept XKSS doors, which (I didn't know myself) are completely different to the D-type. Hand rolled on a maiden's thigh, they in themselves are a true work of art. The last photo shows the interior of the door with the new "handle" and is yet another example of attention to detail that can only be found at true marque specialists. You'll see that we now need to fit the rear lights and the screen surround has to be chromed and the car has to be painted and trimmed and, and, and.....
More anon
More anon
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